Floor covering positioner

ABSTRACT

A rug positioning apparatus for securing a floor covering on a carpet surface. The apparatus comprises a central base member that is adapted to be placed between the floor covering and the carpet. A plurality of spikes extend vertically upward from the central base member and are adapted to engage the floor covering and penetrate the floor covering when stepped upon. A plurality of spikes also extend vertically downward from the central base member and are adapted to engage the carpet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains to securing mechanisms for carpets andfloor coverings such as rugs, and more particularly to apparatus forpositioning and securing movable floor coverings upon carpets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are various types of floor coverings used in residentialand commercial applications. As used herein, the term “floor covering”or “movable floor covering” is meant to be very broad to include carpet,rugs, mats, floor mats, runners, and other coverings made of fabric,animal skin, nap material, pile material and/or other suitable floorcovering material. One long existing problem is that when a movablefloor covering such as a rug is placed over a carpeted surface, the rugtends to wander or naturally slide out of place over time and after itis walked upon.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention provides an apparatus for securing a floorcovering on a carpet surface. The apparatus comprises a central basemember that is adapted to be placed between the floor covering and thecarpet. A plurality of spikes extend vertically upward from the centralbase member and are adapted to engage the floor covering. A plurality ofspikes also extend vertically downward from the central base member andare adapted to engage the carpet.

[0004] The device may be operated by placement between a rug and acarpet. The rug can then be stepped on which can lock the rug in placeover the underlying carpet.

[0005] A system using on or more rug positioners is also disclosedherein. One or more rug positioners can be used to secure and holdstationary a rug or other floor covering on a carpet surface.

[0006] Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of an apparatus for securing afloor covering on a carpet surface in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2, is an isometric exploded illustration of a floor coverpositioning system using the apparatus for securing a floor covering ona carpet surface as shown in FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional illustration of an apparatus forsecuring a floor covering on a carpet surface in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The following disclosed embodiments further illustrate theinvention but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limitingits scope.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, a rug positioning apparatus 10 for securinga rug 12 or other suitable floor covering on a carpet surface 14 isillustrated. The rug positioning apparatus 10 includes a central basemember 16 that is adapted to be placed between the rug 12 and the carpetsurface 14. Preferably the central base member 16 is disc shaped, planarand relatively thin so as to prevent or minimize the formation of bumpsin the rug when installed. The central base member 16 may have avertical cross-sectional thickness T in the range of between about ⅛-¼inches.

[0012] A plurality of spikes 18 extend vertically upward from thecentral base member 16. These spikes 18 are configured for engaging andpreferably penetrating the fabric/pile material of the rug 12 when therug 12 is stepped upon. A plurality of spikes 20 also extend verticallydownward from the central base member 14. These spikes 20 are configuredfor engaging and preferably penetrating the fabric/pile material of thecarpet surface 14. The spikes 18, 20 may extend perpendicularly as shownto more easily facilitate penetration of the spikes into the carpet andfloor covering material or may be angled if desired.

[0013] The spikes 18, 20 may be equally shaped and of the same orsimilar configuration as is shown. Alternatively the bottom spikes 20may be longer in length. As shown, each spike 18, 20 includes a shankportion 22 projecting from the central base member 16 and a pointed tip24 that can engage/grip and/or penetrate the material of the carpet 14and rug 12. Preferably, the spikes 18, 20 extend a vertical distancelong enough to penetrate into the rug 12 but not long enough topenetrate all the way through the rug 12. This way, when people arewalking barefoot on the rug 12, they do not injure themselves with thespikes. The pointed tips 24 of the spikes 18, 20 may be slightly roundedin configuration and not sharp for safety reasons.

[0014] For most commercially available floor coverings, the verticaldistance D and length of the spikes 18, 20 (if perpendicularly oriented)is between about ⅛-¼ inches. However actual length will depend upon thevertical height of the rug as the spikes 18, 20 are intended to extend avertical distance D that is less than about 75% of the vertical height Hof the rug 12, while in a free and uncompressed state.

[0015] To facilitate fixation of the rug positioning apparatus 10 tocarpet or floor covering material, the rug positioning apparatus 10 maybe comprised of suitably rigid material such as metal material. As shownin FIG. 1, the spikes 18, 20 and the central base member 16 may beunitary and integrally formed together such as by molding, providing forinexpensive manufacture.

[0016] A system of using the rug positioning apparatus 10 is illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown therein, one or more rug positioningapparatus 10 are inserted and placed between the rug 12 and the carpetsurface 14. Depending upon rug size and usage a rug may need 1, 2, 4, 6or more devices which can be selectively spaced by the user. Ordinarily,the underlying carpet surface 14 will already be held or fixed in place,such as affixed to a plywood support 26 as is typically in manyresidential and commercial buildings. One set of spikes 20 engage andpreferably penetrate the carpet surface 14 when pushed into the carpetor when the overlying rug 12 is stepped upon over the apparatus 10 whichin turn fixes the position of the rug positioning apparatus 10. Theother set of spikes 18 are pushed into the material of the rug 12 (e.g.the rug is placed on the rug positioning apparatus 10 and stepped uponto lock the rug in place). Since the rug positioning apparatus 10 isfixed, the spikes 18 hold the lateral position of the rug 12 fixed,preventing the rug from wandering or migrating when walked across andused.

[0017] All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

[0018] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referentsin the context of describing the invention (especially in the context ofthe following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular andthe plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

[0019] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein,including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out theinvention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparentto those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoingdescription. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ suchvariations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention tobe practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalentsof the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permittedby applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-describedelements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by theinvention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for securing a floor covering on acarpet surface, comprising: a central base member adapted to be placedbetween the floor covering and the carpet; a plurality of first spikesextending vertically upward from the central base member, the firstspikes adapted to engage the floor covering; and a plurality of secondspikes extending vertically downward from the central base member, thesecond spikes adapted to engage the carpet.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the central base member is a planar disc member.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein the spikes extend perpendicular relative tothe planar disc member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firstspikes extend a vertical distance of between about ⅛-¼ inches, andwherein the second spikes extend a vertical distance of between about⅛-¼ inches.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first spikes extenda vertical distance long enough to penetrate into the floor covering butnot long enough to penetrate all the way through the floor covering. 6.The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second spikes extend a verticaldistance long enough to penetrate into the floor covering but not longenough to penetrate all the way through the floor covering.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is comprised of metalmaterial.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the spikes and thecentral support member are integrally formed together.
 9. A floorcovering positioning system, comprising: a carpet surface; a floorcovering positioned upon the carpet surface; and at least one floorcovering positioning apparatus between the floor covering and the carpetsecuring the floor covering on the carpet surface, the floor coveringpositioning apparatus, comprising a central base member placed betweenthe floor covering and the carpet; a plurality of first spikes extendingvertically upward from the central base member, the first spikesengaging the floor covering; and a plurality of second spikes extendingvertically downward from the central base member, the second spikesengaging the carpet.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the centralbase member comprises a planar disc member.
 11. The apparatus of claim10 wherein the spikes extend perpendicular relative to the planar discmember.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first spikes extend avertical distance of between about ⅛-¼ inches, and wherein the secondspikes extend a vertical distance of between about ⅛-¼ inches.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein the first spikes penetrate into the floorcovering but not all the way through the floor covering.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13 wherein the second spikes extend a verticaldistance long enough to penetrate into the floor covering but not longenough to penetrate all the way through the floor covering.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is comprised of metalmaterial.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the spikes and thecentral support member are integrally formed together.
 17. The apparatusof claim 9, wherein the first and second spikes are of equal length. 18.The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a plurality of the floor coveringpositioning apparatus are positioned between the floor covering and thecarpet in spaced relation to one another.
 19. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the first and second spikes penetrate the floor covering and thecarpet surface, respectively.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein thefirst spikes penetrate the rug by a distance of less than about 75% ofthe vertical height of the floor covering in an uncompressed state. 21.The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the floor covering comprises a movablerug, and wherein the carpet surface is fixed to a floor surface.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein the first and second spikes are equallyshaped and sized.